Individual serving pack



Dec. 15, 1959 u. H. DESPRES 2,917,216

INDIVIDUAL SERVING PACK Fild Sept. 25, 1957 I L2 1 +34 l I 23 J8 INVENTOR Urban HDespres ATTORNEYS ,llnitedStates Patent 2,917,216 INDIVIDUAL SERVING PACK Urban H. Despres, Clinton, Maine, assignor to Keyes Fibre Company, Portland, Maine, a corporation of Maine 1 Y Application September 25, 1957, Serial No. 686,189

This invention relates to a foldable pack adapted to hold individual portions of ice cream or the like, and it particularly relates to a pack of the above type which is made of molded paper pulp.

Heretofore, the general method of manufacturing and packing certain types of ice cream, particularly the Italian type ice cream called Spumoni, was to pour the liquid ice cream into a pint size waxed container, freeze the liquid at about 20 F. to form a frozen block and then cut the block into four or more wedge-shaped portions somewhat as one would cut a pie. Each portion was then placed in an eclair-shaped dish made of pleated paper and half-wrapped. Thereafter, eight of these individual packages were placed in a chipboard box for sale to stores or restaurants which sold or served the individual, wedge-shaped portions separately.

One of the disadvantages of the above type of process was the fact that various handling steps were required, first to pour the liquid into the container, then to cut the block, then to wrap the individual portions and, finally, to remove the portions and serve them individually. This created problems in sanitation since, even if utensils were used throughout, these utensils had to be constantly kept sterile. This required not only constant surveillance but also necessitated stoppages in the line of production every so often. Furthermore, once the product was sold to the store or restaurant, no control could be maintained over the storekeeper, the restaurant owner or the waiter. As a result, not only was the cost of production increased but also complete sanitary conditions could never be assured.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages of the prior types of processes by providing a packaging means which obviates any handling of the ice cream from freezing to serving.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging means which decreases the cost of manufacture and maintains sanitary conditions through the manufacturing process.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a packing tray embodying the present invention, the packing tray being illustrated in open position;

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the packing tray of Fig. 1, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end sectional view of the packing tray of Fig. 1, taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a packing case illustrating two folded packing trays positioned therein, said trays being shown in side elevation; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 but including a flat sheet overlying the open top of the pocket.

Referring now in greater detail to the figures of the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a tray, generally designated 10, which comprises a sheet 12 made of molded pulp and being defined at its periphery by a lateral rim 14. The sheet 12 is elongated and generally rectangular with rounded edges at the corners of the peripheral rim.

Depending from the base plane of the sheet 12 are 'a plurality of laterally-spaced pockets 16; here shown as four in number. The pockets, as illustrated, are generally wedge-shaped-or triangular in cross-section and are defined by upper sidewalls 18, of almost vertical inclination and relatively narrow extent, which merge with lower side walls 20 of greater angular inclination and wider extent. The walls 20met in a rounded, somewhat truncated bottom apex portion 22. The end walls 24 of each pocket extend downwardly and inwardly to merge with the end portions of the truncated apex portion 22, as

best seen in Fig. 1.

In each of the spaces 26 between the pockets 16 are provided spaced fold lines 28. These fold lines 28 define a hinge portion 30 which permits each pocket to be overfolded onto the other. The fold lines 28 also provide lines of weakness to permit easy severance of each pocket from the other. If desired, these fold lines may be formed as perforated lines to make the severance even easier.

Preferably, the inner surface of each pocket is coated with wax or other desirable moisture and vapor proof material so as to prevent undesirable loss of moisture from the ice cream in the pocket during extended periods of storage of the package.

The trays 10 are adapted to be molded in the flat condition, as in Fig. 1, with the fold lines or perforated lines '28 preferably formed during the molding process. The

trays are shipped to the ice cream manufacture in this flat condition and the ice cream manufacturer then fills the pockets of each tray with the liquid cream and places a sheet 34 of waxed paper, parchment, metal foil, or the like, over the top. The assembly is then placed in the freezer. After freezing, the package is then created by first folding the left hand pocket over the second pocket from the left and the right hand pocket over the second pocket from the right. This creates two closed sections, each section containing two separate portions. Two such packages can then be easily packed into a rectangular container or carton, such as illustrated at 32 in Fig. 4, by bending up each half of the package around the hinge 30 between the two inner pockets so that a generally rectangular package is formed. Two such rectangular packages, one above the other, fit snugly within the container 32, as shown.

At the point of use, as in a restaurant, the packages can be removed from the container, unfolded, and severed at the fold or perforated lines 28 to provide the required individual servings intact in their individual, sanitary containers, untouched by human hands or by any form of handling utensil.

It is within the scope of this invention to make the trays with only two pockets and even one individual pocket. However, the preferable and most efficient form is that described above and illustrated in the drawings.

Although this invention has been described in relation to ice cream, it can also be used with various other prod: ucts such as cheese, butter, gelatin, thermosetting or thermoplastic resins, etc.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

3 1:eWl1at is claimed is:

v1. A packagecomprising a molded K11 1111 i lysfilifillqd by a peripheral rim having four generally triangular pockets hingedly connected to each other and having fiat open tops, a solidmasslwithinteach poqket, a'fia lfi qitfiliflr lying the open "top v of ..each pocket; aid ,poeket s Ageing overfolded npon each other with the sheetslcoyeringjv aid open tops in smface-to-surtace con tact t0 z qv mfi generally rectangular pack, the rim portions surrounding each of a pair, of over-folded pockets forming--a-latQrally ..Q1 1 wardly extending rib extendingvangularlyl across .8.id pa and -interru tin the a correspon in aim eper ion qf; th otherpair of folded pocketsnatianlangle. v v .-2. 'Thestrayfl-of claim '1 iwhereinqeachofisaidpogkets is coated vwith .acvaporaproofs coatingtmaterial. -3. iThepackagevof claim vlwherein l the'iour pockets are laterallyrspaced from each otherl andjconnccted one to vthe other .by' ahinged connection.

4. A package assembly comprising a generally recan ular packin rqo ta nq an a 329111l91fi23 snugly positioned within said contai r, said pack com prising a molded pulp tray defined by a peripheral rim having four generally triangular pockets with flat open tops, a solid mass within each pocket, a flat sheet overlying the open top of ea eh poc ket, said pockets being connected by a hinged connection and being overfolded p each Qth r'w th 1I lli swsr ss aid Open p in surface-to-surface contact.

Befigrms Qited i theme-9 thiarat m UNITED STATES PATENTS Marshall Feb. 28, 1956 

